The Legend of Black Caesar still haunts the Florida Keys
Black Caesar is an elusive character, a pirate of some renown who roamed the Florida Keys, or so goes the legend. We explore his lair, and so can you!
Historic
Fort Matanzas: St. Augustine’s charming free fort reopens after storm
St. Augustine’s Fort Matanzas is a small stone fort on a pristine island. You take a short ferry ride for a ranger-led tour. The fort was closed for eight months after Hurricane Irma and recently reopened.
New things to do on Islamorada, a great stop in Florida Keys
There are excellent reasons to stop in Islamorada on your Florida Keys trip, including a cluster of cultural attractions. A new top-notch museum in Islamorada has a Clyde Butcher photo exhibit this summer.
Free in Key West: Things to do without breaking your budget
No doubt about it: Key West is expensive. But despite its small size, Key West is packed with things to do and see — and some are even free. Here are a half dozen places to go where you’ll soak up Key West culture without opening your wallet.
Flock to a wonderland of birds on tiny Pelican Island
The nation’s first wildlife refuge was created by President Teddy Roosevelt to stop plume-hunters from wiping out several species of birds. The birds are back, and spring is a great time to visit. (You’ll need a kayak for a closeup look.)
Amelia Island & Fernandina Beach: Beaches, hikes, historic sites and more
With eight state parks, a national park, scads of history and top beaches, Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach make a great base to explore northeast Florida.
Historic Desert Inn stands tall at Yeehaw Junction
The billboards on the Turnpike are gone, and so are the discount coupons, but the legendary Desert Inn is still kickin’ at Yeehaw Junction.
‘Saltwater Railroad’ had its roots on popular Florida beach
They met on South Florida’s beaches apprehensively, seeking flight to a better life in the Bahamas. If they were fortunate, they would haggle a fair price and board a boat bound for Andros Island.
A day exploring the Redland: Agriculture and rustic charm thrive near Miami
The historic agricultural area surrounding the Homestead entrance to Everglades National Park offers so many cool experiences — a park where you can see and sample exotic fruits, free tours of a spectacular orchid grower’s estate, a local tropical-fruit winery and famous fruit milkshakes and cinnamon rolls.
Azaleas bloom at Ravine Gardens; celebrated in festival March 3-4, 2018
It’s spring in Florida: Azaleas are blazing in white, lavender, pink and red at a Florida state park with a rich history.
Civil War buffs: Florida’s biggest battle, Olustee, re-enacted Feb. 16-18, 2018
At Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park near Jacksonville, Florida’s largest Civil War battle will be re-enacted, with gun smoke, booming cannons and cavalry. Three of the famous “Colored Regiments” were among 10,000 troops that fought here.
